Multiple Fatalities Car Crash

Chris said:
Another example is Sweden, which has one of lowest road death rates; it is said by anti-speed campainers that it is due to strict speed limits and enforcement that Sweden has such safe roads. But this completely ignores the fact that for most of the year you cannot drive at anywhere near the speedlimits.
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This would therefore reduces the instances of speeding.
Personally i do think that speed is one of the main causes of road death, that and people not using seat belts.

On drivetime yesterday a fire officer that attended the scene said that the road was in good condition and poor road condition did not seem to be a factor in the crash.

To my ind if the road was in good condition, alcohol was not a factor and there were no other cars involved then speed would seem the reason for the crash, or perhaps the driver falling asleep?
I did not hear if any of the victims were wearing seatbelts.

I'd hasten to add i'm not apportioning blame, just looking for reasons, my heart goes out to the families.
I thought the priest who attended the scene spoke very well on tubridy's show this morning, you could hear how devastated he was to have seen first hand the pointless waste of life.
 
How about attaching the wheelchair symbol above our speed limit road signs? A subliminal appraoch?
 
Ciaraella said:
This would therefore reduces the instances of speeding.
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Only during the winter months, and the rate of road deaths does not go down in Sweden in the winter months. People in Sweden disobey speed limits just like people do in other countries. But from what a Swedish and Finnish colleague have told I gather that their driving schools are excellent. Lots of time spent on instructions on adjusting speed to the prevailing conditions.
It is dangerous driving that is killing young people, and yes in a lot of accidents vastly excessive speeds are the cause. But these problems are not going to be solved by reducing speed limits or setting up speed traps on single/dual carriageways to catch out someone doing 120 in a 100 zone. Better education and active policing of dangerous driving is what is needed, but these are politically unpopular and very expensive respectively, so I wouldn't hold my breath for a serious attempt at making a change.

Ciaraella said:
Personally i do think that speed is one of the main causes of road death, that and people not using seat belts.
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I agree with you on the seat belts. The amount of times I have had to ask friends and colleagues to put on their seat belt when they get into my car is ridiculous.
 
I am amazed at the amount of tyre marks from doing doughnuts when I drive down some of the back roads usually at the junctions, and main roads, these must be done in the early hours because I have never seen anyone making them. Is this not showing off?
 
I watched a L driver run 2 red lights in succession today. Still amazed.

Its down to speed and a lack of will to ruthlessly enforce the law.

I know the cars/drivers that are high risk in my area from simple observation, its not rocket science. There is no reason why these drivers could not be proactively addressed -the state intervenes in other areas, health for example where people's behaviour puts them at risk.

I see no reason why drivers in statistically proven high risk categories can not be invited down to the local scrap merchant to watch their seized car being crushed in cases where the amass X penalty points in Y time.

Uproar initially yes but not long before the message is understood.
 
Complainer said:
How many of us go to the bother of reporting incidents of dangerous driving to the Gardai?
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I tried to do it once in Co Waterford. I was driving from Dublin to Cork (the scenic route) and was in one of three cars which were nearly ran off the road at the end of the climbing lane. Some lunatic came up behind us with high beams on at ridiculous speed and then decided to pass us all out about 10m before the end of the lane (which is very clearly marked and signed).

I took his / her reg plate and rang 999. I explained where I was (didn't know exactly but had a pretty good idea and knew which was the next village / town in front) and what happened. I also gave the make, model, colour and the reg no of the car. Then the person on the other end of the line told me that there wasn't enough time for the patrol car get get out on the road and stop the car in question and there was no pint notifying the next garda station as the driver may turn off before the second town. IMHO these are fair points but thought there was a bit of 'ah it's late at night and we can't really be bothered'.
 
Caveat said:
Well I know I'll be accused of paranoia but basically I wouldn't trust the gardaí with my info.
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Could you expand on this? Are you concerned that they might then target you as some kind of trouble-maker?

Yachtie said:
I tried to do it once in Co Waterford. I was driving from Dublin to Cork (the scenic route) and was in one of three cars which were nearly ran off the road at the end of the climbing lane. Some lunatic came up behind us with high beams on at ridiculous speed and then decided to pass us all out about 10m before the end of the lane (which is very clearly marked and signed).

I took his / her reg plate and rang 999. I explained where I was (didn't know exactly but had a pretty good idea and knew which was the next village / town in front) and what happened. I also gave the make, model, colour and the reg no of the car. Then the person on the other end of the line told me that there wasn't enough time for the patrol car get get out on the road and stop the car in question and there was no pint notifying the next garda station as the driver may turn off before the second town. IMHO these are fair points but thought there was a bit of 'ah it's late at night and we can't really be bothered'.
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Indeed, these are fair points. What I've done for a few incidents that happened while cycling is to report them to the Garda TrafficWatch line (1890-205805), and tell them that you are prepared to give a formal statement. You'll get a call from the relevant station, and you'll be invited to give a formal statement. Once you give the statement, the investigating Garda will follow up with the other party, and then make a report. The Inspector (or the DPP for more serious offences) decides whether to prosecute.

Obviously, I don't do this for every chancer that I see breaking a red light, but I do it when I see serious offences that put me or other cyclists at unnecessary risk.
 
Complainer said:
Obviously, I don't do this for every chancer that I see breaking a red light, but I do it when I see serious offences that put me or other cyclists at unnecessary risk.
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I assume you report both drivers and other cyclists?
 
Complainer said:
Could you expand on this? Are you concerned that they might then target you as some kind of trouble-maker?
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Partly that, and partly that I would be concerned that my contact details would be passed on to the offender - it has happened before.
 
username123 said:
I assume you report both drivers and other cyclists?
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I've never managed to get the reg number of a cyclist! To be honest, I've seen lots of rule-breaking by cyclists, but I've never had my safety threatened by another cyclist. I do have occasional 'little chats' with other cyclists from time to time, which is probably as much as I can reasonably do.

Funnily enough, I hadn't used the TrafficWatch number for ages until today, when I met a lady in an SUV coming the wrong way down a narrow single-lane one-way road. I got a call back from the local station, so I'll be giving my formal statement on Friday. Maybe she'll just have to take the long way round in future.
 
7 months ago I reported an incident of dangerous driving for the first time ever, it was that bad that I could not let it go unreported.....Anyway I popped into garda station, gave outline details, got a call back to go in again and give statement, when I went in to give the statement they said it was a state vehicle and sure probably not worth taking a statement. I insisted they should indeed take a statement and asked what dept it was registered to, they said Revenue/Customs so I commented that Revenue don't get official emergency call outs and should abide by usual rules of the road. I gave a formal statement. I heard nothing since. I am probably naive assuming it will go to court and I will say my peace in court and someone will be accountable for their dangerous driving. Such a rigmarole no wonder people don't bother reporting cars, the guards don't really want to know imo.
 
fizzelina said:
7 months ago I reported an incident of dangerous driving for the first time ever, it was that bad that I could not let it go unreported.....Anyway I popped into garda station, gave outline details, got a call back to go in again and give statement, when I went in to give the statement they said it was a state vehicle and sure probably not worth taking a statement. I insisted they should indeed take a statement and asked what dept it was registered to, they said Revenue/Customs so I commented that Revenue don't get official emergency call outs and should abide by usual rules of the road. I gave a formal statement. I heard nothing since.
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Why not give the Garda a call and chase him up? Or write to your local Supt asking what happened? I know you shouldn't have to do this, but ...
 
I think that as part of "driver education" in schools students should be shown the real consequences of driving dangerously. I don't think they actually think about consequences, I know I didn't and I wasn't really a dangerous driver at all.

They should be shown graphic images of the results of car crashes and the devastation it brings to families and friends.
 
fizzelina said:
7 months ago I reported an incident of dangerous driving for the first time ever, it was that bad that I could not let it go unreported.....Anyway I popped into garda station, gave outline details, got a call back to go in again and give statement, when I went in to give the statement they said it was a state vehicle and sure probably not worth taking a statement. I insisted they should indeed take a statement and asked what dept it was registered to, they said Revenue/Customs
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Complainer said:
Why not give the Garda a call and chase him up? Or write to your local Supt asking what happened? I know you shouldn't have to do this, but ...
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And/or write to the Chairperson of Revenue and ask them to take action internally.

Caveat said:
Partly that, and partly that I would be concerned that my contact details would be passed on to the offender - it has happened before.
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Very disappointing to think that people won't stand up and be counted in situations like this. I guess if a case goes to court, then all details are in the public domain anyway.
 
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